Coronavirus Updates and Resources from Rep. Lieu

Dear neighbor, 

We are days away from the conclusion of the 2020 General Election – and I want to encourage you to vote if you haven’t done so already. Making your voice heard in this election is crucial to building a brighter future for us all. 

There are numerous ways to cast your vote on or before November 3rd. Every registered voter in Los Angeles County should have received a mail-in ballot. Please check your mailbox to see if you’ve received it. Once you’ve filled it out, you can drop it off at a ballot drop box or voting center. To track the status of your ballot, please click here. You can also vote in person. Starting today, all vote centers will be available for early in-person voting through November 3rd. If you vote in person, you may encounter long lines, so please bring with you what you may need to be able to stay in line. In addition, please remember to wear a mask and practice social distancing while voting. For more information on voting in LA County, please visit lavote.net.

Los Angeles County is seeing an increase in the number of daily COVID-19 cases, which is likely associated with recent sector reopenings and sports viewing gatherings. We must continue to reduce community transmission, and each play our part in the fight against this virus. Please remember to wear a face covering; engage in social distancing; and wash your hands frequently.

This weekend is Halloween, and although it will be different this year due to COVID-19, there are still ways to celebrate Halloween safely and responsibly. In Los Angeles County, carnivals, festivals, live entertainment and haunted house attractions are not allowed and door to door trick or treating is not recommended as it can be difficult to maintain social distancing on porches and at front doors. Some safer alternatives include online parties or contests, drive-by Halloween displays, movie nights at drive-in theatres and more. For additional Halloween guidance on how you and your families can have fun while staying safe, please click here.

Your weekly reminder: 

1. This is a difficult and uncertain period for all of us, when many are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed. If you are feeling this way, please know that you are not alone. If you need someone to talk to, please call the LA County Department of Mental Health hotline at (800) 854-7771 or text “LA” to 741741. Please also view the CDC’s guidance for coping with stress and anxiety during a pandemic.
   
   
   
   
2. Please remember to get your flu shot to stay healthy this season. It is likely that both COVID-19 and the flu will be present at the same time in LA County this year. You can get a flu shot at any local pharmacy. For quick flu facts and frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the flu, click here. 
   
   
3. If you tested positive for COVID-19, you should expect a call or text from a county public health specialist as part of an effort to contact trace and contain the spread of the virus. They are not law enforcement officers and will not ask about immigration status. If you tested positive for COVID-19 and have not yet heard from a contact tracer, please call 1-833-540-0473. To aid in this effort, LA County and City of Los Angeles leaders announced a partnership with SafePass, a mobile app to help expand local efforts to contract trace and contain the spread of COVID-19. For more information on the app and to download your SafePass, please go to citizen.com/safepass.
   
   
4. Have you witnessed fraud, waste, or abuse of coronavirus pandemic relief funds? Congress has approved over $3 trillion in federal spending to combat the pandemic and I am committed to ensuring your tax dollars are being spent properly. I encourage you to visit coronavirus.house.gov/contact/tip-line or call 202-225-4400 today to report waste, fraud, or abuse of COVID-19 funds. 

COVID-19 Updates

From the State  

This week, Washington, Oregon and Nevada joined California’s Scientific Safety Review Workgroup to review the safety and efficacy of any FDA-approved vaccine before distribution. The Governors of the three states will name public health experts to join California’s workgroup, which Governor Newsom announced last week. This is one of many collaborations from the Western States Pact since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From LA County

Last week, the LA County Department of Public Health updated its Health Officer Order with new guidance for family entertainment centers, personal care services and schools. The new order allows for an increase in the percentage of high-needs students permitted for in-person instruction in TK-12 schools from 10% to 25%. Schools may also reopen if their waiver application has been approved by the LA County Department of Public Health. To view the new school reopening protocols, including special protocols for the TK-12 setting, please click here.

In addition, batting cages, miniature golf and go-cart racing may begin to operate outside only. All other indoor family entertainment centers remain closed. 

Finally, personal care services can reopen with safety modifications. All customers and employees must always wear face coverings and maintain hand hygiene. The facilities must also be cleaned and disinfected frequently.

Additional Resources 

1. Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers on their 2020 World Series win! If you were celebrating the Dodgers with a crowd of non-household members, you may have been exposed to COVID-19, especially if you were around people who were not wearing masks. Please remember to maintain six feet of distance from those outside of your household at all times to prevent disease spread. In addition, please monitor yourself for symptoms and get tested if you believe you may have been exposed.
   
   
2. All LA County residents who would like to get tested should first contact their Primary Care Provider to see if they offer COVID-19 tests. If you cannot access a test through your provider, LA County is offering free testing, which is available for those experiencing symptoms; those working or living in a high-risk facility; those who were in close contact with someone with COVID-19; and/or essential workers with frequent contact with the public. For more information and to sign up for a test near you, go to covid19.lacounty.gov/testing.
   
   
3. For updated data on COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in California and LA County, please go to update.covid19.ca.gov and publichealth.lacounty.gov.
   
   
4. With the holidays approaching, an increase in government imposter scams is likely. Please be weary of unfamiliar names or numbers; don’t give out your financial information; and report the scam if you believe you’ve been targeted. To report the scam, please call the LA County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222.
   
   
   
   
5. As wildfire season continues, please remember to stay prepared in case you receive an evacuation order. For information on how to prepare your family and home for a wildfire or any other emergency, please go to readyforwildfire.org or listoscalifornia.org. To sign up for county alerts, please click here.
   
   
6. If you are a business owner in LA County, I encourage you to participate in the Safety Compliance Certificate Program, which will help ensure your business is implementing the proper COVID-19 infection control protocols. By taking the training, you can self-certify and post your certificate to show you are complying with county public health directives. 
   
   
7. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you or someone you know needs support or someone to talk to, please call the LA County helpline at (800) 799-7233. If it is an emergency, please call 9-1-1. Help is available 24/7.
   
   
   
   
8. Due to recent wildfires, air quality is unhealthy in parts of Los Angeles County. Please click here to view the October 29th Air Quality Advisory. If you are spending time in the areas listed, please limit your time outdoors and reduce physical exertion. To check the air quality in your area, please visit fire.airnow.gov. 
   
   
9. Employees are eligible for up to two hours of paid time off to vote if they don’t have time outside of work to cast their ballots. If you need to request time off to vote, please contact your employer. 

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, I am confident in the resiliency of our community as we endure these hard times together. We must keep up the hard work in mitigating the spread of this virus and wear masks in public; wash our hands frequently; and practice social distancing. For more COVID-19 updates from LA County and California, please visit covid19.lacounty.gov and covid19.ca.gov. You can also visit my coronavirus webpage, and follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I look forward to updating you again soon. 

Stay safe. 

Sincerely, 

Ted W. Lieu 
Member of Congress